Muthulakshmi v. The Secretary To Government,

IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS

DATED : 18.08.2020 CORAM :

THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE N.KIRUBAKARAN AND THE HONOURABLE MS.JUSTICE V.M.VELUMANI H.C.P.No.226 of 2020 Muthulakshmi ... Petitioner/wife of the detenue Vs 1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009.

2.The Commissioner of Police/Detaining Authority, Tiruppur City, Tiruppur District.

... Respondents PRAYER : Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of Writ of Habeas Corpus, calling for the entire records relating to the petitioner's son detention under Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 vide detention order, dated 14.01.2020 on the file of the second respondent herein made in proceedings Memo C.No.01/G/IS/2020, quash the same as illegal and consequently, direct the respondents herein to produce the petitioner's husband namely Selvaraj, S/o.Mari, aged 54 years before this Court and set the petitioner's husband at liberty from detention, now the petitioner's husband detained at Central Prison, Coimbatore. For Petitioner : Mr.W.Camyles Gandhi.

For Respondents: Mr. R. Prathap Kumar, Additional Public Prosecutor.

O R D E R

(Order of the court was made by N.KIRUBAKARAN.J.,) The matter was heard through "Video Conference". 2.The Wife of the detenu has filed this Petition challenging the detention order passed by the Second Respondent in proceedings Memo C.No.01/G/IS/2020 dated 14.01.2020 under the Tamil Nadu Act 14 of 1982 as he has got an adverse case and ground case registered against him.

3.Heard Mr.W.Camyles Gandhi, learned Counsel appearing for the Petitioner and Mr. R. Prathap Kumar, learned Additional Public Prosecutor appearing for the Respondents.

4. It is seen from the records that the representation sent on behalf of the detenu has not been considered within time frame and there is a delay of 32 days in considering and disposing of the representation.

5.In the decision in "C.Muthuvali Vs. The Principal Secretary to Government, Home Prohibition and Excise Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, Secretariat, Chennai - 600 009" reported in "[(2017) (1) MWN (Cr.) 270 (DB)]" it has been held that an unexplained delay of nine working days on the part of the Government in considering the representation rendered the detention illegal. Another Division Bench of this Court in "Samaiah Vs.The Secretary to Government" reported in "[(2007) (4) MWN (Cr.) 145]" has held that an unexplained delay of three days in disposal of the representation made by the detenu would be sufficient to set aside the detention order.

6.Further, a larger Bench of the Supreme Court in "Rekha Vs. The State of Tamil Nadu" reported in "2011 5 SCC 244" has held that "Preventive detention is by nature repugnant to democratic ideas and an anathema to the rule of law. No such law exists in the USA and in England (except during war time). However, Article 22(3)(b) of the Constitution of India permits preventive detention, we cannot hold it illegal but we must confine the power of preventive detention within very narrow limits, otherwise we will be taking away the great right to liberty guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution of India which was won after long, arduous, historic struggles". 7.Since there is an unexplained delay in considering the representation submitted by the detenu, the detention order passed by the second respondent is liable to be set aside.

8.Accordingly, the detention order passed by the Second Respondent in proceedings Memo C.No.01/G/IS/2020 dated 14.01.2020 is quashed and the Habeas Corpus Petition is allowed. The detenu viz., Selvaraj, S/o.Mari aged 54 years, who is confined at Central Prison, Coimbatore is directed to be set at liberty forthwith unless his presence is required in connection with any other case.

Sd/- Assistant Registrar //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar ay To 1.The Secretary to Government, Home, Prohibition and Excise Department, Secretariat, Fort St.George, Chennai 600 009.

2.The Commissioner of Police/Detaining Authority, Tiruppur City, Tiruppur District.

3.The Superintendent of Prison, Central Prison, Coimbatore.

4.The Public Prosecutor, High Court of Madras, Chennai.

5.The Joint Secretary Public (Law and Order) Department Secretariat Fort St. George Chennai - 600 009.

H.C.P.No.226 of 2020 RJI(CO) CB(20/08/2020)